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Elderly
men and women are permitted to break their fasts, as are the chronically
ill, and those who have to perform difficult jobs under harsh
circumstances and who could not find any other way to support
themselves. All of these people are allowed to break their fast, because
such a practice would place too much hardship on them during any part of
the year. They are obliged to feed one poor person a day (for every day
of fasting that they do not perform). The scholars differ over how much
food is to be supplied, for example, a Saa`, half a Saa`, or a mad.
There is nothing in the Sunnah that mentions exactly how much is to be
given.
Ibn
`Abbas said: "An elderly man is permitted to break his fast, but he
must feed a poor person daily. If he does this, he does not have to make
up the days that he did not fast.” (Related by Ad-Daraqutni and by
Al-Hakim, who said it is Authentic.) Al-Bukhari recorded that 'Ata
heard Ibn 'Abbas recite the verse: "And for those who can fast [but
do not], there is a "ransom': the feeding of a person in need"
(Al-Baqarah: 185). Then Ibn `Abbas continued: "It has not been
abrogated. [Its ruling applies] to elderly men and women who are not
able to fast. Instead, they must feed one poor person on a daily
basis."
The
same is true for one who is chronically ill and as such cannot fast, and
for one who is forced to work under harsh circumstances and as such
cannot endure the additional burden of fasting. Both groups must also
feed one poor person daily.
Commenting
on Al-Baqarah's verse, Sheikh Muhammad `Abduh says: "What is meant
by those who can fast' [(but do not) in the Qur'anic verse] is the weak
elderly people, the chronically ill, and so on, and similarly, those
workers who are working under severe conditions, such as coal miners.
The same applies to criminals who are sentenced to life imprisonment
with hard labor. They have to pay the 'ransom' if they have the means to
do so."
Pregnant
and breast-feeding women, if they fear for themselves or for the baby,
can break the fast and pay the "ransom." They do not have to
make up the days missed. Abu Dawud related from 'Ikrimah that Ibn 'Abbas
said concerning the verse ‘And for those who can fast [but do not],’
"This is a concession for the elderly, as they can fast. They are
to break the fast and feed one poor person a day. Pregnant or
breast-feeding women, if they fear for the child, can do likewise."
This is related by Al-Bazzar. At the end of the report, there is the
addition: "Ibn `Abbas used to say to his wives who were pregnant:
'You are in the same situation as those who can fast [but do not]. You
are to pay the "ransom" and do not have to make up the days
later.' " Of its chain, Ad-Daraqutni says it is Authentic.
Nafi`
reported that Ibn 'Umar was asked about a pregnant woman who feared for
her unborn baby. He replied: "She is to break the fast and to feed
one poor person a day one mad of barley."
There
is also a Hadith that states: "Allah has relieved the travelers of
fasting and half of the prayer, and the pregnant and the breast-feeding
women of the fast.” According to the Hanafiyyah, Abu `Ubaid, and Abu
Thaur, such women are only to make up the missed days of fasting, and
they are not supposed to feed one poor person a day. According to Ahmad
and Ash-Shafi’i, if such women fear only for the baby, they must pay
the "ransom" and make up the days later. If they fear only for
themselves or for themselves and the baby, then they are only to make up
the missed days at a later date.
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